![]() The helmet, a fairly common style is not terribly executed, however it has characteristics of having been of a higher quality tier than that unrolled edge on the plain steel brim exhibits. To my knowledge Hanwei’s offering has no basis for this being a copy of any single surviving suit (let alone attributed to Nobunaga) however the pieces that comprise it are mainly of the correct era, granted that era saw more armor production than any other and one can find pieces of all but the earliest eras. (However many of these were only opened on the right side, why have to have someone hold your armor on while you lace it up when you can slip it on like a vest.) Hanwei’s offering has the hinges under the right arm and ties shut on the left side, a mirror of what is supposed to be. belly-wrap) which had the opening in the back like a apron, and armors that were open under both sides like western armor that were comprised of a breast and a back plate. The exceptions to this were armors categorized as Haramaki (lit. The most glaring error (in my mind) is Japanese armor, from the earliest of times had the hinges on the left and the opening under the right arm. I will not say Hanwei blew it in this department, because they are trying to make it primarily to appeal to an American consumer, and one predominantly uneducated in the details of Japanese armor but well, it falls far short of what I think Hanwei could have done. (Note it is almost impossible to prevent some cords from having to bear more weight and tension than others, on plates that curve over the surface of a torso, as well as having curvature themselves.) Fit and finish is well done and commendable. ![]() ![]() However on the plus side, Hanwei did a very good job actually in the execution of the lacing, it is not pulled too tight and there was almost none of the “stray loose cord look” on finds on many reproductions. I feel the chewed up, disheveled look of the braiding detracts from the care they took with the metalwork, it is simply a matter of the material not being durable enough to remain in good shape through the assembly, going in and out of that many tight holes is rough on most cording, and it seems that they did their best to keep it as unworn as possible. The only downside I can point out in this portion of the review is that the lacing used is akin to the lacing found on the earlier practical katana (i.e.) it is not close to the ribbed braiding one should see, and that it looks very fuzzy. The furkin (gilded metal borders) that edge some of the plates are fit well, and the decorative sewing, although really just a ribbon glued on was well done, I had to search for the seam. (There was some but it was from mis-handling in the store) The metal appears to be powder-coated and well done with no blemishes from the factory. Plates are well shaped, folds executed cleanly and I did not find any galling of the metal any were on the suit. Edges of the metal and the corners are smooth and display a pretty good example of quality control on this single piece. Overall the assembly and manufacture of the armor is quite good. Without going into extensive detail as to type (schools) of armor represented by this particular montage it is a superficially passable example of late Sengoku period gusuko (armor). My overall opinion is that it is good for an office display, if it was about $500.00 lower in price. On Friday I had the opportunity to get to examine CasI/Hanwei’s Oda Nobunaga Samurai armor.
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